Eight babies, lots of opinions

I was saddened by the photos of the newborn octuplets emblazoned on Wednesday's front page. These are new, innocent human beings. I am outraged at the ethical choices made by the mother and the fertility physician. But there are eight more people now in the equation who have done no harm and whose privacy and dignity we should protect.

Instead of publishing pictures of the newborns, show the fertility physician on your front page, or question Kaiser's need for payments from the state.

Ruth Wimsatt

Irvine

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People receiving government assistance should be legally barred from obtaining fertility treatment. I also think families seeking treatment should have to submit income and financial statements showing their ability to pay for their children.

Mathew Andresen

Lompoc

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Why should taxpayers have to pony up the cash for Suleman, when she has her own publicist and several lucrative deals on the table? Any royalties that she gets should be deducted from her public-assistance tab.

Jennifer Harrington

Los Angeles

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How telling was your juxtaposition of the octuplets' cost to taxpayers and the imminent state tax increases. During these trying economic times, I am reminded of the adage, "If you are a Republican at age 20, you have no heart; if you are a Democrat at age 40, you have no money." As a 35-year-old taxpaying Democrat, I am learning to forsake Democratic idealism and beneficence in favor of Republican pragmatism and responsibility.

Todd Cloaninger

San Diego

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Do the octuplets have an overbearing mom? Sorry about that, I couldn't help myself.